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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Loved this little soapbox from Mark but it did have a lot of truth to it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Frustrated with the content if ITA, I moved to Software Development a couple of years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">It is great subject and generally much more interesting than ITA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Reading the draft Study Design, I certainly won’t be drifting back to “Informatics”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I encourage everyone to read the draft study design and give their feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">My classroom got a stack of past IT class sets which we have to purchase after every new study design is issued. I used to look at the panels to see how many
textbook authors were on the panel. I only hope that changes to the study design are for the right reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Read the draft - <a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/ComputingSD-consultation-draft.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/ComputingSD-consultation-draft.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Read the Summary of changes - <a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/VCE_InfoTech_summary_changes.doc" target="_blank">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/VCE_InfoTech_summary_changes.doc</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Go here and say <span style="color:red">something</span> -</b> <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRDVJ25" target="_blank">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRDVJ25</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Ken Bell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Mortlake College<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, 12 May 2014 4:21 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Year 11 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List; Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List; Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Year 12 SofDev] Fwd: The draft study design is on the table!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psst. Hey, you. Yes, you. The IT teacher. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But mainly <i>you</i> - the <b>ITA</b> teacher.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background:#F3F3F3">Remember that <b>feedback on the draft IT study design</b> stops on
<b><span style="color:red">17 May</span></b>. See below for quick links.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background:#F3F3F3">Five days to go. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If you teach <b><span style="color:red">ITA</span></b> and you love the idea of teaching
<b>databases</b> for most of the year in <i>Informatics</i>, you need do <b>nothing</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But here's a hypothesis...<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- If you do nothing you <b>won't</b> end up teaching databases for most of the year. Yay! What?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- This is because when students hear that 'Informatics' == 'Databases',
<b>none</b> of them will enrol for it.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- You will be teaching <b>Woodwork</b>. Or two <b>Year 9 Health</b> classes instead.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, that's just a hypothesis. But sharpen your chisels and unwrap your condoms - just in case.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We know that <b>IT Applications</b> enrolments have been trending down for the past 5 years. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">And I'd suggest this largely because databases have been mandated for the past 5 years in ITA.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">And the new <b>Informatics</b> course wants to compound the injury by increasing the database component. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dammit, people. We've always had an <i>understanding:</i><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- <b>Software Development</b> has always been for the unashamed IT lover who would watch "The Big Bang Theory" and laugh at the quantum physics jokes.I know I do.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- <b>ITA</b> (formerly IPM - Information Processing and Management) was for - let's be honest - the students who liked using computers but couldn't get into Media Studies. It was a fun, easy subject with low skill expectations on arrival,
and a useful skill set on graduation. It was marked down as a VCE study, but everyone knew that and accepted that. It was
<i>understood</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The draft study design seems to want to make ITA an ultrageeknerd study, chockablock with
<i>pure database science...</i>the sort of study that would not be "marked down" and would stand proudly against a "real science" like physics or chemistry.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">But is that what <i>Informatics</i> is supposed to be? A rigorous, intellectually-demanding, highly academic investigation of esoteric theory that tertiary graduates require for a career in a narrow corner of the IT industry? If so, it
destroys the attraction of a subject for general ICT skill development. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">VCE Maths has all sorts of streams for students who (1) want to get through year 12 and (2) want to become a maths/science professional.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Why can't VCE IT do the same, as it has always done? <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let's retain a unit 3/4 IT subject for those who couldn't give a flying fuschia for fancy further specialist studies. How many students would choose VCE Biology units 3 and 4 if three of the four outcomes were on
<i>cellular slime mould</i>, and the other one was on <i>everything else</i>?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">These lists have been a whistling desert breeze, a lonely rolling tumbleweed of discussion on the crucial issue of this draft IT study design.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- Are people <span style="color:#4C1130">passionately in favour of increased database content in ITA and are silent in anticipation of its arrival</span>? (Yay! More databases!)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- Are people <span style="color:#4C1130">writing passionate feedback in defence or defiance of the draft to the
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRDVJ25">VCAA survey</a></span>, and are silent here?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- Are people just <span style="color:#4C1130">passively waiting to be fed whatever VCAA pushes into their cages</span>, and quietly grumble "I don't like that much" for the next 5 years?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Your only chance is <b>now</b>. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">And you have only <b>five</b> days.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If you have an opinion <b>express it here on the Edulist forums</b> as well as on the
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRDVJ25">VCAA survey site</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You might <b>inspire others</b> to think and respond.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But I don't have to worry. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">- <b>I</b> have the beach, red wine, and a thousand fine (and bad) old movies to amuse me during periods 3 and 4 on a Tuesday. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>- You </b>will have year 12 <i>Informatics</i> with yet <i>
another</i> database outcome coming up, and the kids still don't really understand how 2NF differs from 3NF even after your eleven prior attempts to explain it, even with your hand puppets.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#741B47;background:lime">So, if you teach VCE IT...</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Read the draft - <a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/ComputingSD-consultation-draft.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/ComputingSD-consultation-draft.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Read the Summary of changes - <a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/VCE_InfoTech_summary_changes.doc" target="_blank">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/infotech/VCE_InfoTech_summary_changes.doc</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>But for Dog's sake, <span style="color:#351C75">whether you agree with me or not</span>, go here and say
<span style="color:red">something</span> -</b> <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRDVJ25" target="_blank">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRDVJ25</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Otherwise, you know what the next 5 years will be like for you:
<i>Countersinks</i>. <i>Chlamydia</i>...<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888">-- </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888">Mark Kelly (amateur troublemaker)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888">mark AT vceit DOT com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888"><a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#888888">Everything new draft study design is a chance to make the VCE world a better place. -
</span></i><span style="color:#888888">Mark Kelly<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#888888"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark Kelly<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">mark AT vceit DOT com<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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